Window tightener



April 18, 1950 F. ERNEST WINDOW TIGHTENER Filed Sept. 13, 1948 INVEN TOR.

Patented Apr. 18, 1950 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE WINDOW TIGHTENER Fred Ernest, Gardena, Calif.

Application September 13, 1948, Serial No. 49,050

Claims.

This invention relates to devices adapted to prevent the rattling oi slidable windows, and more particularly the windows on automobile doors.

In order to prevent the rattling of Windows slidable in channels, felt, or other fabric material, is commonly provided in the channels to engage the edges of the window. These liners become worn and matted down after continued use, and the window becomes loose and rattles within the frame. It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and inexpensive device to prevent the rattling of such slidable windows.

Devices have been heretofore proposed for preventing the sliding windows of automobiles from rattling; but these devices are often mechanically complex, and the installation thereof generally entails considerable time and eiort. Furthermore, a replacement of the fabric liner itself ordinarily requires that the automobile door and window be dismantled. It is accordingly another object of this invention to provide an improved form of window securing apparatus in which it is unnecessary to disassemble any portion of the automobile.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a device for preventing the rattling of automobile door windows that is light in Weight, easily installed, and adaptable to all forms of window designs and shapes.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a device for preventing the rattling of automobile door windows that can be economically manufactured, as by stamping, from standard material, and that may be easily handled, stored, and shipped.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a window slide channel of simple and inexpensive construction that may, if desired, be utilized as an original installation on new cars.

When the original liners become worn and matted, not only may the windows rattle, but the seal between the window and the channel is destroyed, and drafts of air may enter the inside of the automobile. Accordingly, it is a further object of this invention to provide a window tightener that will serve to prevent the entrance of air around the edges of the windows by providing a new seal between the window and the channel member in which it slides.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of several forms in which it may be embodied. ,Such forms are` shown in lthe drawings accompanying and forming part of the present speclcation. These forms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope oi the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is an elevation of an automobile door and sliding window, partly broken away, showing the device installed on an automobile structure;

Fig. 2 is a side view showing one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of this embodiment, showing how the ends of the device are formed;

Fig. 4 is a side View showing another embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the planel indicated by the line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the planeindicated by the line 6 5 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5, showing the adaptation of this invention to existing' window supporting structure of a different form, the `invention here being particularly adapted for original installation in a new automobile.

. A strip II forms one element or liner of the window tightener. This strip II is made from suitable fabric material, such as felt. This strip II is attached, as by an adhesive, to a flexibleguiding means I2, serving as a backing for the strip II. This means l2 is preferably of metal, although other materials can be used. The guid ing means or backing strip I2 is of sturdy mate-- rial, and it is capable of exure in order to conform to many shapes of automobile structures, and to facilitate installation of the device therein. Since the strip I2 is of uniform cross section, it is uniformly ilexible throughout substantially its entire length. The window tightener may be suitably coiled in rolls, facilitating easy handling, storage, and shipment.

In the forms shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the backing strip I2 is of sinuous configuration, forming alternate crests and troughs. Adjacent the crest portions, the width of the liner II is reduced, as`

indicated at I3. Y

.According to the dimensions of the particular frame to which the window tightener is to be adapted, a length of liner II and strip I2 is cut from the roll stock. The strip I2 should be of sufficient length so that it may extend past the` bottom extremity of the channel I4 and also to the top portion of the4 window frame I 5, as ,illustrated in Fig. l. The strips I2 are thus of sucient length that the window I6 contacts at least a portion of the tightener regardless of the position of the window within its frame.

A small portion of the liner II is removed adjacent each end of the strip I2 in order to facilitate the installation of the tightener. The Width of the liner II adjacent the troughs is slightly greater than the free distance across the channel I4 between the wornffelt I1",'velour, or other fabric materiall lining the channel Hi. The forward end I8 of the strip I2 is slidably inserted longitudinally of the channel member I4 until the tip I8 abuts the stop I9 adjacent thejlovv'` est extremity of the channel I4. This stop I9 may be suitably apertured, as at 2U, in orderftoreceive the end I8 of the strip-v I2. Sliding the liner Il longitudinally of the channel III, and the existing felt I'I, for insertion is easily eccomplished, since the guiding means or strip I2 cangwithout appreciable buckling, readily sustain the force-`urging the-'devicefin place:

Whenprovided in strip form, the trailing endeZIvof'the' window tightener may be scored, as-atl2I-a, whiclrmakes. it very easy to'v break off-f. the corner alongv this scoring.. The taper is thus conventiently. formedY immediatelyvpre ceding installation of' the f' tightener.

When' inserting the tightener, asl in Fig; 1, ther-trailing-ppointed"end 2I is inserted between the: channel I4- andthe existing materialA I-, leaving a small bulge in the strip I2, as shown by? the. dot-ted lineposi'tion. The tightener' is then finally positioned by flattening the'bulge so..l formed"intoftheffchannel'- I 4, as illustrated by ie full :line position.

Two stripsr of 4suflicientlength may be inserted into the sides of the windowv I6; meetingat the' portion lgadjacent: the elevated portions of thei'strip' II, eliminates. lateral friction so that theulspring; action of thestrips I2 may take effect.

While#insertionof` the liner Iii does notrequireanymateriallforce, any attempt'to withd-rawfthe'liner.isV quite strongly resisted. Thisf occurs.v because of the nature of the structurev ofthefeltzv material used for linen II, or other` similar" fabrici materials. Felt is madeupi-of indiscriminately placed hair-Ike elementsg'-` such' asiwoolbers. Manyl ofy thesev li'e-v transverse of the-strip II at itsy edges'` 23 Fig. 6i. When in serting; vthef device, asv by being urgedfd'ownvvard-` 1yr.y (assi viewed in-Fig. 6), these elements are swept upward with relation to the edges-123. However, when a forceis applied to' pull the dcvice vupwardly', the ends ofthese elements catch or1 hookl into thesfabric liner I1 of the channel I-f and-'resist this movement. This phenome` withinl the' frame idoesnot alter.`

Regardless of the form of existing structure (being either that shown in Fig. or in Fig. 7), the window tightener cooperates with the existing material and channel member to form an effective seal, preventing drafts of air from entering the interior of the automobile from the outside.

The modied form shown in Fig. 4 is similar to the preferred form illustrated in Fig. 3, but the-liner 2lil and strip 25"'have a plane conguration asA compared' with" the' wave' configuration of the preferred form. This form of window tightener similarly functions to form a channellikev cross section, and supports the window from lateral as well as longitudinal movement byc'ontacting the edge 22 of the window I6.

Either form of.l Window tightenei` is adapted to form a part of the original installation on newI cars: For this purpose, the channel member I4 is lined only on its sides, as at 26 and 21, the strip- I2 contacting the bottomotthecliannel: Ill.v Contactb'etweenthe. edges 23 of the' liner: I I'f.` and the liningrmaterial 26.l and 2l` serves to maintain the position of the tightener withinthe-channel. Th'e'line': IIy is ofsuchzwidth that it is: urged,` intoi" a.: channelelike configura-f tion, .supportingthe Window Iii.- in substantially the; Samet mannen' as inlFigi 5. A1 replacement of the tightener in this." structure constitutes'za replacement of" theroriginal liner',` and this reipla'cement is easily accomplishedlirr the man--l nei-'set vforth iii-connection with Fig; 1".-

li In a tightening device readily' insertable into an existingvwindow channel: a ilexillilkzli g-uid ing strip; anda strip'm'em'ber attached Yto the sup#A porting guiding "strip, and having edgesI overhang;` ing the edges-ofthe guiding strip; saicl member" bei-ng madefrom materialthat can be lie-Xedlnlgit'iidirli'ailyadjaceritftlie edges, said materia-lhaV-- ingffhairllik'e elements -projectir'igf transversely of themember attli'eV edges.

2. In a-itighteni-ng device readily insertabl-e into: an* existing windowf' channel-z` a longitudinally' sinuous resilient guiding strip; andl aielt mein-'i ber 'attached tothe-istrip; and-having edges'foverhanging ftheedges of the' supportingstr'p.

32 In a device'f'for vguidingasliding"window:v` means--forming'a channel; fabric material liningA the sides of the channel; a-ffabric strip'having-a width ygreater tl-ianf'the` space acros'stlie channel; a-ridilexibl guidingmeans-` attached'fto the strip;

4 I'i a device of the character descrilifed:` means lforming' a channel; fabric: material lining' atlast vthe sides of the channel; flexible' guidingl means slidable in said channel; andfai fabric stript attached: to said' l means` having'- a' width greater than theiree space-betweenthe sides 'of the-chanenel, and forming aA channelelike configuration therein'.

5:- In a windowtightener: Va 'slidable strip "having'- uniform flexibility" throughoutL substantially? itsfenti'relength, said 'strip' b'eing'providedat its end..witl'1N a" readily" severable portion to"` provide" a` pointed iendior'thestrip; and'aVV fabric'stripat tacled' to said slidable strip and Having edges overhangingtl're' edges of" the' slidable strip;

'6i Ina windowtightener 'adapted to "b'e inserted* withina linedlwindw'channel' a` slildablefstri'p' having uniformYv` flexibilityAL througho'ut'x sub'st'aiil tiaily 'its entire length, sai'di'strip havingapointed end-adapted torpierce the 'lining"ofthechannelj and a' fabric'memberattached i to" the strip and" having "edges overhanging the" edges"of^'the"stip;

7'? In"artiglteiiingfuer/icereadily"insertableiintfr an existing window channel: an elongated strip of yielding material adapted to engage the edge surface of a window, and to extend lengthwise along said edge surface, the strip having longi- 10. In a tightening device readily insertable into an existing window channel: an elongated fabric strip; and an elongated flexible guiding means having a substantially flat cross sectionr tudinal edge surfaces that are free; and fiexible 5 iorfguiding the strip into the channel, said guidmeans for guiding said strip into position with respect to the edge surface of the Window, cornprising a member extending longitudinally of the strip and having uniform transverse flexibility throughout substantially its entire length.

8. In a tightening device readily insertable into an existing Window channel: an elongated fabric strip; and an elongated exible guiding means having a substantially at cross section for guiding means being sinuous in a direction longitudinally of the guiding means, said guiding means having substantially uniform transverse flexibility throughout substantially its entire length;

l0 said strip and means being longitudinally joined together; said strip having portions extending beyond the longitudinal edge of the guiding means, and said strip, at and adjacent the crests `of the sinuous guiding means, being narrower ing the strip into the channel, and attached to 15 than at other parts of the guiding means.

the strip longitudinally therealong, said guiding means having substantially uniform transverse exibility throughout substantially its entire length; at least a part of the strip extending beyond the longitudinal edge of the guiding means.

9. In a tightening device readily insertable into an existing Window channel: an elongated fabric strip; and an elongated flexible guiding means having a substantially fiat cross section for guiding the strip into the channel, said guiding means 25 being sinuous in a direction longitudinally of the guiding means, said guiding means having substantially uniform transverse flexibility through* out substantially its entire length; said strip and means being longitudinally joined together.

FRED ERNEST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 20 le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,169,792 Dean Aug. 15, 1939 2,182,687 Bailey Dec. 5, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 237,753 Great Britain Aug. 6, 1925 386,200 Great Britain Jan. 12, 1933 623,022 France May 22, 1928 

